A decade ago, Bugatti dropped a meteor on the automotive world with the Veyron, reshaping notions of what’s possible in a production car. At the IAA Frankfurt Motor Show this month, visitors can get a glimpse of the ultra-exclusive French automaker’s future, with the Bugatti Vision Gran Turismo.
The Bugatti Vision Gran Turismo exterior
As its name implies, this car was initially designed for the best-selling Gran Turismo PlayStation series, but those in Frankfurt can see in the blue-carbon-fiber flesh that it represents a great deal more. Achim Anscheidt, head of design at Bugatti, says while the concept is overstated, it clearly signals the design language we can expect to see from the automaker in the near future.
The iconic horseshoe grille frames the front-end, while eight “eye headlights” designed specifically for the VGT give the car an equally modern and menacing look. The rear is characterized by the massive wing, which helps create down-force. The cockpit is designed for racing functionality, with the location of every button and control purposefully considered. An especially lightweight and durable suede that is used for racing shoes in Formula One makes its way onto parts such as the steering wheel, dash and headrest. And while the carbon fiber used on the exterior is glossy, designers opted for a matte-finish in the cockpit, chosen to minimize glare.
The Bugatti Vision Gran Turismo cockpit
The Bugatti Veyron and Veyron Vitesse currently hold both the roadster and convertible land-speed records, at 268 mph and 254 mph respectively, making them the planet’s fastest—in addition to the most powerful and most expensive—production cars. The next Bugatti looks to top the Veyron in every way, and is slated to drop early next year. For now, we can look to the Vision Gran Turismo for an idea of what to expect.
